In finishing the Lord's message to us from the symbolism of Zech. 6, we take a look at the mystic and profound last chariot. Let us keep in mind that this prophecy was "unlocked" for a specific lesson and warning to us, the last church.

The Fourth Chariot.

Since the first three "chariots" embrace the history of the church from the Early Christian Church up to 1844 A.D., the fourth one must represent a subsequent church organization-successor to the Millerite, or Philadelphia church. The last of "the seven churches, " the church of the "Laodiceans," necessarily, therefore, is the one symbolized by the "Fourth Chariot."

Just as the name "Philadelphia" fits only one church organization, and only one of the chariots, so the name "Laodicean" an logically fit only one of the chariots and only one denomination. The word, itself, is derived from the Greek word, Lego-dikean, meaning, "declaring judgment."

After the event of the Philadelphian church, there must therefore be a church declaring judgment. And it is a historical fact that in 1844 A.D., the very year the Millerite movement came to the end of its appointed course, a new movement, our Seventh-day Adventist denomination, arose, proclaiming: "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." Rev. 14:7.

Grisled and The Bay Horses---Double Leadership.

And in the "fourth chariot" were "grisled and bay horses." The anomalous part of this symbolical prophecy is manifestly, that the fourth chariot, unlike the other three, has a double span of horses.

Just as the colors of the preceding horses are significant so the colors of this double team on this last chariot are also significant.

The marginal reference in your Bible will tell you that the Bay horses are a strong team and indeed they must be as Zechariah tells us that they are the team that eventually wins out in their determination to go to and fro through the earth, Zech. 6:6,7.

The color "Bay" is a definite hue or color, easy to be defined, a very common color. As the Bible marginal reference has already told us that the "Bay" horses are a strong team, then we will proceed on to find the significance of the "grisled" colored horses.

A "grisled" color is not a definite hue or color It is an undefined color. In this setting the word "grisled could be synonymous with the word "Laodicea", "neither cold nor hot." Ministry and laity alike are warned that if we continue to remain in a "lukewarm" (grisled) condition that we will be spewed out. "Because you are lukewarm, I must spew you out of My mouth." 7 Bible Commentary p. 963, E. G. White.

The Spirit of Prophecy forewarned us years ago that two parties would be developed in our church. "A new life is coming from heaven and taking possession of all God's people. But divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest." 2 Selected Messages p. 114.

"While the Lord brings into the church those who are truly converted, Satan at the same time brings persons who are not converted into its fellowship. While Christ is sowing the good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are two opposing influences continually exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the purification of the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God." Testimonies to Ministers p. 46.

Can we not see clearly the Two Classes of people today in our church as depicted by the grisled and bay team?

In speaking of the ministry (horses), the servant of the Lord counseled us years ago that some of the ministry as well as the laity need to be converted.

"Some ministers, as well as people, need converting. They need to be torn to pieces and made over new. Their work among the churches is worse than lost, and in their present weak, tottering condition, it would be more pleasing to God for them to cease their efforts to help others, and labor with their hands until they are converted. Then they could strengthen their brethren." Testimonies, Vol. 1 p. 37.

"I tell you plainly, brethren, unless the ministers are converted, our churches will be sickly and ready to die....

"When ministers realize the necessity of thorough reformation in themselves, when they feel that they must reach a higher standard, their influence upon the churches will be uplifting and refining.

"There are sinners in the ministry." Testimonies to Ministers pp. 143, 145.

"The work the Lord would do to set the churches in order is not done, because the individual members-and especially the leaders of the flock--would not be corrected." Selected Messages p. 47.

Our object in quoting these statements as recorded in the Spirit of Prophecy is not to just criticize or to find fault with the ministry of our church but to simply point out the truth that we as a denomination have tares in the ministry as well as in the laity.

We know the Lord has his faithful ministers as well as faithful laity. But Satan has also sown his tares among ministry and laity alike. Those ministers or leaders who prove to be faithful are represented by the "Bay" team.

The Paradox

Most arresting about the whole symbolism is the paradoxical fact that the grisled went "toward the south country, and the bay went forth, and ...walked to and fro through the earth"! Zech. 6:6,7. The grisled go one way, and the bay, another way, and yet both are pulling the same chariot.

The Scripture asks the question, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed"? Amos 3:3. The dissimilar teams hitched to the fourth chariot, each pulling in a different direction from the other, show not only that there is a Double Leadership in the Laodicean church, but also that the one is opposed to the other in character as well as in purpose. This condition being a strange one, the wise will well consider it.

Seeing that the Word of God has spoken it, and that the symbolism perfectly describes the contest which, before their very eyes, is taking place, they will tenaciously take hold of the truth.

Many years ago the servant of the Lord commented on this very condition, when she said: "I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people. The Lord has not closed heaven to us, but our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of banishment or condemnation. Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders.

"The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power. Doubt, and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus.

The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you. Light has been shining from His word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted and disregarded. The result is apparent in the lack of purity and devotion and earnest faith among us." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 217.

Thus we can see that the "south country" or Egypt, the direction into which the "grisled" team is headed is symbolical of the world. Just as ancient Israel while wandering in the wilderness, wanted to go back to Egypt, so modern Israel is walking in her foot steps today. "The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people....Daily the church is being converted to the world." Christ's Object Lessons pp. 315,316.

"I have been shown that the spirit of the world is fast leavening the church. You are following the same path as did ancient Israel. There is the same falling away from your holy calling as God's peculiar people. ...Your neglect to follow the light will place you in a more unfavorable position than the Jews upon whom Christ pronounced a woe." Testimonies, Vol. 5 pp. 75, 76.

Grisled Team Cut Off

Seeing that the chariot is drawn by both teams, each pulling in a different direction from the other, obviously both cannot win out without breaking it in two, thus leaving it ruined and useless, One pair or the other, therefore, must be cut out of the traces.

And the fact that the bay (the "strong horses"-verse 3, margin) are the ones who eventually will be enabled to "walk to and fro through the earth" while the grisled have attempted to take the chariot toward the south country (Egypt, the world), shows that the bay team during the Loud Cry, (the period of the second brass mountain) are to possess the chariot and to preach "this gospel of the kingdom...in all the-world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24:14.

The Spirit of Prophecy commenting on this particular time says: "Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers." Great Controversy p. 612.

"...But the Lord will use in the accomplishment of His work means that we do not now see. He will raise up from among the common people, men and women to do His work, even as of old He called fishermen to be His disciples. There will soon be an awakening that will surprise many.

Those who do not realize the necessity of what is to be done, will be passed by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who are called the common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places. Now is the time for us to awake and do what we can." Loma Linda Messages p. 83. (The Paulson Collection of Ellen G. White Letters p. 319)

"God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions....God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 82.

What Happens to the Grisled Team?

Since the Spirit of Prophecy tells us that "Only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it, the Third angel's message when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry" (R&H Nov. 19, 1908), the question naturally arises, What Happens to the Grisled Team, to those who do not overcome temptation in the strength of the Mighty One?

We found in our studies that when the Judgment for the living commences or just before the Loud Cry begins to be proclaimed that the Lord Himself commissions the five angels with slaughter weapons to go through the city (church) and slay all those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads, men, women and little children perish together. See: Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 211.

In speaking of those who have ministered to others, the Spirit of Prophecy says: "It is with reluctance that the Lord withdraws His presence from those who have been blessed with great light and who have felt the power of the word in ministering to others. They were once His faithful servants, favored with His presence and guidance; but they departed from Him and led others into error, and therefore are brought under the divine displeasure." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 212.

Thus we can clearly see that the Lord Himself will remove the grisled team .

"Angels keep a faithful record of every man's work, and as judgment passes upon the house of God, the sentence of each is recorded by his name, and the angel is commissioned to spare not the unfaithful servants, but to cut them down at the time of slaughter." Testimonies, Vol. 1 p. 198.

"When trees without fruit are cut down as cumberers of the ground, when multitudes of false brethren are distinguished from the true, then the hidden ones will be revealed to view, and with hosannas range under the banner of Christ. Those who have been timid and self-distrustful will declare themselves openly for Christ and His truth. The most weak and hesitating in the church will be as David--willing to do and dare." Testimonies, Vol. 5 p. 81.

The fulfillment of this prophecy will bring into being the Second Brass Mountain, God's purified remnant church.

The hidden ones are brought to view when God purifies His church. They will be the first fruits of the final harvest, the 144,000 (the bay team).

"The great issue so near at hand (the purification of the church) will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain...." Selected Messages Book 3 p. 385 (Letter 55, 1886).

Thus we can see with the 144,000 as the Loud Cry ministry, the Second Brass Mountain will come into being.

Isaiah calls this pure, true, sanctified ministry, "the holy people".

"And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion," (after the purification of the church) "and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning." Isaiah 4:3,4.

"Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken." Isaiah 62:11,12.

What is the Work that is Before this Holy People?

(144,000, Bay Team)

"For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many." Isaiah 66:16.

In the next few verses Isaiah will tell us what happens to those who escape this slaying (those who receive the mark, or seal in their foreheads as recorded in Ezekiel 9:1-11).

"And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel" (144,000) "bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord." Isaiah 66:19,20.

Now we can clearly envisage a great ingathering of souls which will culminate in the establishment of the second brass mountain, the church which will perfectly reflect the image of Jesus. "When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." Christ's Object Lessons p. 69.

Thus we can see that the Lord will use His pure, true, sanctified ministry, (the bay team, the 144,000 first-fruits) to garner in earth's final harvest, the great multitude of Revelation 7:9, the harvest John saw after he saw the sealing of the 144,000.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;" Rev. 7:9.

The 144,000 are the Bay Team, those who are without fault before the throne of God (Rev. 14:5). They will eventually become the second brass mountain (the church triumphant).

Being the nucleus of the second brass mountain, they will be "Clad in the armor of Christ's righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict. 'Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners' (Song of Solomon 6:10), she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer." Prophets & Kings p. 725.

The Lord Takes The Reins.

"There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world.

God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness. Those who are accounted good workers will need to draw nigh to God, they will need the divine touch. They will need to drink more deeply and continuously at the fountain of living water, in order that they may discern God's work at every point." Testimonies to Ministers p. 300.

"Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock.

In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view." Testimonies, Vol. 5 pp. 80,81.

"The end is near, stealing upon us stealthily, imperceptibly, like the noiseless approach of a thief in the night. May the Lord grant that we shall no longer sleep as do others, but that we shall watch and be sober. The truth is soon to triumph gloriously, and all who now choose to be laborers together with God, will triumph with it. The time is short; the night soon cometh when no man can work.-- Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 135. (1909)" Evangelism p. 692.

It is our prayer that the reader of this booklet be among those who will compose or make up the Bay Team, those who will have a part in proclaiming this message to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, under the power of the Holy Spirit.

"Today you are to have your vessel purified, that it may be ready for the heavenly dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement.

It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord--fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit...." Evangelism p. 702.

Full Report]http://shepherds-rod.org/basic/reins.html

The fact that you twisted this quote to support some kind of calling out of the Adventist church proves where you come from.

Here is that quote in it's entirety...

"The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure." {1SM 204.2}

So if the enemy of souls is the one who would claim that we need to change our religion and reorganize a new church then what does that say about the way you used that quote GordonB1?

God has shown me that it says a lot.

Acts 27:23
"For there stood by me this night the angel of God,
whose I am, and whom I serve."

Here Paul could mean he serves the angel of God,
or that he serves the God of the angel.

Bear in mind: Christ is the Angel of the LORD in several passages.
_____________________

I've been interested in Zech 6 for quite a while GLL and I'm still studying it. Do you mind if I share my view?

The three parallel passages that talk about four horses and/or chariots are in Zechariah 1 and 6 and Revelation 6.

In Zechariah 1 the horses are pictured like in Zech 6 as issuing from a valley or ravine between two mountains. They are said to be “in the bottom” and other translations agree they are in a ravine. I agree with Wesley that the brass mountains of Zech 6 represent the same unchangeable Providences of God in human affairs. The horses of Zechariah 1 are the means God used to humble and discipline the Israelites who were taken captive by the Assyrians and then the Jews who were taken captive by the Babylonians. At the time this vision was given the 70 years of captivity of the Jews prophesied by Jeremiah were over and the world was at peace. The four horsemen reported to the Lord that they had done their work, Israel had been punished and now all the world was at rest and peace. Wars no longer ravished the nations.

But Jerusalem was still in ruins. Have a look at Zech 1:11-16 below and see how God is displease with these tools of his wrath because they caused more damage to His inheritance than they ought to have done. The Lord saw it and comforted the returning exiles promising to come to the aid of His people and empower them to rebuild Jerusalem.

In Zechariah 6 the scene of horsemen and chariots shifts from the past to the future. Zechariah 6 parallels and helps explain Revelation 6 which also applies primarily to the future. I'll pick it up there in the next post.

Yes, by all means share more of your thoughts.

Zech. 6, is quite a short yet powerful lesson. As the report shows it's a story of the church (chariots) from the one "brass mountain" (strong Christ filled church--early Pentecostal) to the future church. In between are the different church movements.

The last church (chariot)struggles to go to and fro the earth (proclaim the gospel) but can't due to the corrupt leadership and the Christ filled servants hitched and unable to go anywhere. then the Lord says "get ye hence" which allows the true servants to be freed to proclaim the gospel. No longer hitched as it were to the corrupt leadership. This is yet another symbolic representation of Ezekiel 9 church judgment.

Thanks GLL. What did you think of my comments on the four horses of Zechariah 1?

One of the keys to understanding the four horses/chariots is their sequence, especially the placement of the white and black horses. In the two visions of Zechariah the white horse is last on the first list and third in the second list but first in Revelation 6. In Zechariah's first list there is no black horse. In his second list the black horse is first but in Revelation it is third.

The order helps to define/identify the meaning of the horses. More later. . .

The prophecy of Zechariah 1 and that of Zech. 6 are not necessarily connected prophetically . They are different lessons. For instance, in between these chapters, we see that in Zech. 4, it has a lesson all in itself. This one will be next and we'll go over it. It concerns how God sends His Bible truth (oil) to the laity. It's method and divine order through the human agencies. Specifically how we are to understand God's word from Top --down.

So the first 6 chapters have individual ideas and prophetic symbols to convey separate lessons. Similar to the Revelation. One chapter does not necessarily flow to the next in prophetic time sequence. Also we must never forget that Scripture is not privately interpreted (2 Peter 1:20). If we see a lesson in Scripture that has not be explained by any of God's prophets through time, we must be very cautious in interpreting them.

As brother Houteff proported to bring the Lord's Elijah message, we have to be sure to "investigate " it and if there is light and cannot be controverted, then at once accept it as truth. That is why I presented the Zech. 6 lesson because it showed a lesson concerning the church past and future (as short as it is). The main lesson being that one day soon a separation between God's people will allow His great Loud Cry to begin.

He also explains some on Zech. 1, which I will post. Then you can compare his with yours on Zech. 1.

When we see the bright shining lessons that God reveals to His people through the certain prophecies, we must acknowledge that our prophetess did not have all the light on many revealed prophetic lessons. This is certainly what Jesus had in mind when He said, we need more and should acknowledge truths, that may come even if we might be surprised by the way it comes. Even if we hold it in "contempt" (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.453)

Will comment on your Zech. 1 and add VTH's word on it shortly.

GLL I was looking at the continuity of the first six chapters and it impressed me that the vision starts with the first four horses and continues uninterrupted to the last four horses where it ends suggesting a close connection between them.

Before tackling the significance of the order of the horses in more detail, I want to comment on this text in the KJV:



The KJV gives the idea that the horses are heavenly spirits of some kind. In my view the ESV and the Jewish version, the JPS are more accurate and agree better with the context.


Like the horses in chapter 1, those in chapter 6 and in Rev. 6 are the powers God uses to work His will in the earth. The white horses represent God's people combined with the forces of good but the others, the red and the dappled and bray are political entities. The black is as we might expect - the opposite of the white, that is, the children of disobedience combined with the forces of darkness which reaches its full manifestation in spiritual Babylon.